Potential New Development at Games Site Is Deeply Depressing

THE ambitious [read, bog-standard] plan to regenerate [read, degenerate] swathes of Glasgow [read, a small part of Glasgow in the East End] through the Commonwealth Games has been given a major vote of confidence [read, a desperate cry of relief] with a scheme for a major hotel, restaurants and retail facilities in the heart of the city’s east end.

The plan will include a 160-bedroom, mid-range hotel alongside the new National Indoor Sports Arena (Nisa) and Velodrome facing Celtic Park, with a supermarket and several well-known food outlets [They’re all well-known: it’s a monopoly] also setting up shop.

A source close to the project said: “The impressive thing about this scheme is that the finance appears to be in place” [For once…maybe…it’s only at notice stage…]

“There’s also a hotel firm waiting in the wings and it’s already gone from 120 bedrooms to 160” [smaller, crappier rooms then?]

“You’re talking something akin to what’s at The Quay on the south banks of the Clyde, with a Frankie and Benny’s-style restaurant and something else dining and family-orientated” [whoopee-doo!]

“You’re also talking about a Tesco Metro and there’s also interest from a major dental firm for a facility at the site” [not another fucking Tesco-Metro…]

A formal notice has been submitted to Glasgow City Council with a statutory public consultation about to commence. A formal application will follow.

Early work on the scheme is being done by Stirlingshire-based consultants Paton Planning and Development, which has worked with the developers and architects involved in the 2014 Athletes’ Village project, just yards away in Dalmarnock, successfully steering it through the planning system [he must know someone then…]

Company chief John Paton also led the planning work on the aborted Ibrox Masterplan and Regional Casino development for Rangers, as well as the planning application for the proposed redevelopment of Tynecastle stadium by Hearts [whoops].

AND FINALLY HERE’S THE INTERESTING BIT:

He [the source] added: “We’re still waiting to see what’s happening immediately around Celtic Park and at this stage it looks at best like concreting the rough ground and covering the eyesores with massive advertising.”

Again: “We’re still waiting to see what’s happening immediately around Celtic Park and at this stage it looks at best like concreting the rough ground and covering the eyesores with massive advertising.”